polycaps???

this may be a stupid question, but what are polycaps used for, and why is it necessary to have them :screwy:

Tamiya uses them to mount wheels.
You can use small RC fuel tubing to replace them...
:p

Polycaps are usually enclosed in the brake housing and are what your wheel shafts slide into to hold your wheels on. . .

a lot of times they're used to keep the spacing between the chassis and wheels right... the build instructions show you where to put them

i know how to use them, but i dont see how they are helpfull

i know how to use them, but i dont see how they are helpfull

Ummm....they hold the wheels in place so they don't fall off the model. You don't think that is helpful?

but you dont glue the polycaps, you place them inside, and glue the thing around them
...so as far as i can tell, its not them thats holding the wheels on

but you dont glue the polycaps, you place them inside, and glue the thing around them
...so as far as i can tell, its not them thats holding the wheels on

You press the wheel into the polycap, the polycap is held in place by the retainer. The retainer holds the polycap, the polycap holds the wheel.
Try leaving the polycap out and see how well the wheel stays in place.

Is it that difficult to understand?

but you dont glue the polycaps, you place them inside, and glue the thing around them
...so as far as i can tell, its not them thats holding the wheels on

I can only assume that you are talking about a Tamiya kit. If this is the case then the male pin that is part of the wheel pushes through the plastic "thing" that is glued around the polycap and pushes into the polycap. The poly cap is a firm fit onto the wheel pin and holds it in place so that the wheel doesn't just fall off.

The same applies in reverse for Fujimi and Aoshima kits - the polycap is in the wheel itself.

If you are still not convinced, try fitting the wheels without polycaps and see how you go then.

I can only assume that you are talking about a Tamiya kit. If this is the case then the male pin that is part of the wheel pushes through the plastic "thing" that is glued around the polycap and pushes into the polycap. The poly cap is a firm fit onto the wheel pin and holds it in place so that the wheel doesn't just fall off.

The same applies in reverse for Fujimi and Aoshima kits - the polycap is in the wheel itself.

If you are still not convinced, try fitting the wheels without polycaps and see how you go then.


k thanks, thats much better, maybe i was missing somthing, cuz on the last couple of builds, i dont recall pushing them through, but that helps thank you

One thing also....as you mentioned you don't glue the polycap. It is enclosed. This design not only allows the wheels to mount to the model it also gives them the ability to turn.